52 



THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



HOUSE-BUILDING IN TONGA 

 It was here that the master of the Dream Ship said farewell to his craft. 



which must be small enough to be han- 

 dled by a crew of three and sufficiently 

 staunch to withstand' anything. 



1 found a country struggling with the 

 same problems that vex the rest of the 

 world at the present time, yet possessed 

 of potential resources and a cheery as- 

 surance ; but T found no ship. 



I journeyed to New Zealand, and there 

 beheld a prosperous, immensely earnest 

 people, encumbered about much sheep- 

 raising, dairying, and over - legislation 

 both at home and in their newly acquired 

 territory in the South Pacific ; but 1 be- 

 held no ship. 



I scoured the Queensland coast all the 

 way to Thursday Island, where the Jap- 

 anese are permitted to carry off the 

 major part of the profits from beche de 

 mer (a sea slug which makes the most 

 nutritious soup in the world), pearls, 

 pearl shell, and trocas shell (second only 

 to mother-of-pearl for the manufacture 

 of buttons, etc.) for the simple reason 

 that the majority of Australians cannot 

 be induced to leave their pet city and 

 tackle the industry; but still I found no 

 ship. 



And so the heart is gone out of things. 

 The dream is ended. 



